Gypsum (chemical composition: calcium sulfate dihydrate) is the basis for gypsum board. It is produced by either natural gypsum ore or desulfurized gypsum, a manufactured industrial byproduct, and is inherently asbestos free. Gypsum powder is obtained, mixed with water and additives, and then pressed between two sheets of facing material (which is usually special paper or fiberglass mats). The powder then sets and dries into board form. There is no part of the process that adds asbestos into the formulation of gypsum board.
2. Why was asbestos once associated with building materials, and what is the current situation?
That is a very valid question, given that asbestos was used extensively in many building material applications in the past, as it has a high degree of fire resistance, and high resistance to temperature. This includes roof tiles, insulation layers, and some of the older types of boards--to name a few examples.
All the same, medical research began to identify in the 1970s and 1980s that inhalation of asbestos fibers could result in serious diseases,including asbestosis and lung cancer. As a result, most countries / regions of the world, such as China, the USA, the European Union, Australia, and Canada, have banned the use of asbestos altogether in building materials. This is a legally binding and mandatory regulation. As a responsible supplier committed to the international market, our products must meet the stringent standards of the destination countries. Adhering to these bans is the baseline of our business operations.
3. How do we ensure our products are asbestos-free?
This is not merely a verbal promise but a practice that extends throughout our entire production chain:
Raw Material Control:
We have a strict auditing mechanism for our gypsum, paper, and all additive suppliers, requiring them to provide asbestos-free declarations and relevant test reports. This eliminates any risk at the source.
Production Process:
Modern gypsum board production lines are highly automated and enclosed, with no point at which asbestos could be introduced. Our formulations are designed to improve certain properties of gypsum boards - such as moisture resistance, reinforcement, and fire resistance - but these functions are achieved by adding safe substances such as glass fiber, silicone oil, and foaming agents, none of which are related to asbestos.
Testing and Certification of Quality:
We routinely submit samples of our products to internationally renowned third party testing agencies (including SGS and Intertek) for assessment to ensure they do not contain hazardous materials, such as asbestos.
Our products have also obtained a range of international certifications, such as compliance with U.S. ASTM standards and EU CE certification. These certifications include strict limits on hazardous substances, so you can place full trust in the endorsement of these authoritative certifications